Real Moms Guide: Season 1 introduces Vanessa 

I am Vanessa Shaw. I’m 31 years old. My background is in education and business. I’ve been married to Gary Shaw for 7 years. I got pregnant on our wedding night and had our first son nine months to the day after our wedding! We had four more babies in a row… five kids in five and half years (Owen, 6.5; Annabelle, 5; Miles, 3.5; Margaret (Maisy), 2; and Charlotte, 1).

We might be on a poster somewhere for being good Catholics, but I doubt it! I am a stay-at-home mom and a home schooling mom. We plan to home school all of them through middle school or so. It’s an awesome privilege being my children’s teacher and having the blessing of exposing them to the world everyday! 

As an extension of our parenting goals, we founded a non-profit organization that I run. Our mission is to empower children to be leaders through giving. I love naps, sleeping, resting, sitting and being alone. I am crazy about my husband and I love my big life!

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Real Moms Guide: Season 1 introduces Dana

Dana Hooper grew up in Phoenix where she spent most of her time working hard in school, while balancing leadership activities, acting, and soccer and basketball.  Dana experienced a unique childhood in that her father worked for the Phoenix Suns.  Being exposed to a life surrounded by professional athletes, Dana had the opportunity to develop her love of sports. 

Her parents taught her that true success is not how much money you make, or how much notoriety you receive, but rather, it is based on how you treat others and uphold the true meaning of integrity.  With that in mind, Dana met her goal of playing soccer in college at the University of California, Berkeley where she earned a double major in social welfare and legal studies.  She then opted to attend law school at the Arizona State University College of Law. 

Presently, she is an attorney at a Phoenix-based law firm.  The love of her life is James “Hoop” Hooper, a stay-at-home dad, who also coaches soccer teams in the Valley.  Their one-year old daughter is Kendal Kai who makes them laugh and beam with pride.  Dana and Hoop have two dogs, Kaby and Keoni, and a tortoise named Floppy.  Dana’s sister, Halley and her father, Barry, also reside in Phoenix.

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Real Moms Guide: Season 1 introduces Ida

I am an Arizona native and 43-year-old mother of 3 sons, 1 daughter and 2 wonderful step-sons. I'm also a devoted wife and I love my family dearly, and my sister Liz and her daughter Monnise are an important part of my life.

I was a flight attendant for Arizona-based America West Airlines and a former beauty queen -- Miss Black Arizona '88-'89. I met my husband George in 1990 and fell head over heels for him. I became pregnant just 5 months after and had our son Khambrell in July 1991. George and I parted ways shortly after, but we ended up married. After becoming a stay-at-home mom, I had 3 more children and decided to go back to school. I'm currently attending South Mountain Community College and Gateway Community College. I'm still not sure what I want to do career-wise, but I know it will involve helping people.

I love Young and the Restless, and I record it so I don't have to sit through commercials -- my day doesn't go right if I miss it! I enjoy sexy romance novels, rollerskating and socializing, and while I've yet to visit DisneyWorld, I definately want to take my kids soon. I love Pepsi, nothing else satisfies me. I'm very romantic and I love surprises. I'm close to God, and know that without Him, nothing is possible.

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